Water-closet



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. V

. A. EDWARDS.

Water Closet. No. 239,037. Patented March 22, I881.

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(No Model!) Q 2 Sl168tS-i$h66t 2. A. EDWARDS.

Water Closet. No, 239,037. Patented March 22, 1-881.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABRAHAM EDWARDS, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

WATER-CLOSET.

SIEfEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 239,037, dated March 22, 1881.

Application filed une 2, 1880. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ABRAHAM EDWARDS, of the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, haveinveuted Improvements in Water-0losets, of which the following is a description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, wherein-- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section, partly in elevation, of a Water-closet embodying myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a plan of the sealing-cap and mechanism for operating the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section of my invention; and Fig. 4 is a plan, partly in section, of the bowl .and of the metallic chamber for the sealing-cap or lid.

My invention has for its object to prevent the admission into dwelling-houses of gases generated by or smells proceeding from fecal or excrementitious matter lodged in or adhen ing to the bowls of Water-closets, the means provided therefor serving also to exclude sewer and other gases which might arise through the waste-pipes, or from the traps of such closets.

InLetters Patent of the United States granted to me dated December 16, 1879, No. 222,578, is shown a mercury or rubber seal located below the bowl of a water-closet, and a sliding pipe forming a conduit between said bowl and the water-trap or dischargepipe.

The devices shown in said patent effectually preclude the admission to the apartment in which the closet may be located of all sewer or other gases or smells generated or proceeding from below the bowl; but itv has been found by experience that fecal or excrementitious matter will lodge in or adhere to the sides of the bowl despite copious flushing, and that such matter will generate offensive and possibly injurious gases and smells, which escape into the surrounding apartment.

To obviate this objection my present improvement involves the movement of the bowl below the seal, so that the latter shall be above all except the seat and lid when the closet is not in use, the bowl being drawn up to the seat when the latter is occupied.

My improvements still further relate to the construction of the bowl with an extension or neck, which forms a conduit from the bowl proper to the trap or discharge-pipe below, when the former is raised for use,-said neck extending down into the trap or discharge pipe when the bowl is lowered beneath the seal -cap. This extension, which takes the place, as a conduit, of the sliding pipe shown in my aforesaid patent, is cast or formed in one piece with the bowl and enameled like the latter, thus preventing oxidation and securing a smooth surface for such conduit, as well as avoiding a joint between it and the bowl.

Serious trouble has heretofore been encountered with the valves of water-closets which arelocated outside the bowls and out of communication with the discharge-pipes, such valves not unfrequently leaking, and the drip therefrom, having no proper egress provided, flowing over the floor of the apartment, or through the ceiling below.

My present improvements include means for avoiding this difficulty; and herein consist in the provision of means for catching the drip from the "alve and conveying the same to the dischargepipe of the closet.

Some objection has been made to mercury traps on the score of loss and danger fromf evaporation, and my present improvements include the idea of preventing such evaporation by keeping the mercury covered with waterm drip from the valve.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A indicates the floor of an apartment in which is located a watercloset, the upright framing of which is shown at B, with a seat, 0.

D is the ceiling below the floor A, and E an ordinary S Water-trap located between said ceiling and floor. F is a metallic section or chamber, flan ge-bolted to the trap E at e. Said section is of a capacity or area sufficient to receive the bowl of a water-closet, and in plan is conformable to the shape of the mouth of said bowl. It has around its upper edge an endless trough or channel, f, designed to hold mercury, or a rubber strip or piece of tubing.

. G is a cap hinged to the section F at f, and having a flange or edge, 9, adapted to enter the trough f, and by submergence in the mercury or indentation of the rubber therein to forma tight or seal joint. Said cap has also segmental cogged arms g g.

H represents the bowl, which is formed with an extension or neck, h, which extends down through section F, and when said bowl is lowered enters the trap E, as shown. Saidneck has vertical ribs 71/ h, with teeth or openings 71?.

b which mesh with the cogs of segments 9 g. The bowl H, when not in use, rests below the cap G, and therefore any gases or smells which may proceed from fecal or other matter lodged in or adhering to it from previous use willbe prevented from escaping into the surrounding apartment, and will be carried off by the ventilating-pipe.

When it is desired to use the closet the bowl is drawn up until its top edge meets the seat 0. This is eflected by raising the seat-lid C, said lid having arod-connection,I, with the winch k on a shaft, K, which is a counter-shaft geared with the shaft G. The latter shaft is the pintle of the seal-cap G. As the working space between the ceiling D and seat 0 is rather limited vertically, and as the width of the cap (which conforms to the oval shape of the bowl) is less than its length from front to back, it follows that it will be more advantageous to cause the cap G to turn up to one side of the bowl rather than to the back of it. To permit this and at the same time to allow the seat-lid to lift back in the usual manner, and in so doing to raise the cap and bowl, is the object of the counter-shaftin g. On lowering the seatlid the bowl moves down into the section F, and the cap G closes overit, forming a seal or joint which prevents the escape of all gases and smells from said bowl or below it into the surrounding apartment.

On the'section F is formed a drip-cup, L, which receives the drip from the flushingvalve Z. Said cup has an opening, l, which is closed by a valve or pad, 9 on the cap G when the latter is turned down. When the cap G is raised the passage 1 is open and the drip accumulations will flow into the mercurytrough. By this means mercury, if employed as the sealing medium of the joint, is kept constantly covered by water, thus preventing its evaporation. The overflow of water from the trough f passes into the bowl H, and thence to the discharge-pipe.

The pipe Mfor supplying water for flushing and cleaning the bowl is stationary and affixed to the under side of the seat 0, its outlet m being so arranged as to discharge into the bowl when the latter is raised, and produce a circular or swirling current therein.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a water-closet, a vertically-movable bowl and means, substantially as described, for raising and lowering the same, said bowl being open at its base and communicating with the trap or discharge-pipe.

2. In a water-closet, a section, F, adapted to receive a bowl, H, in combination with a vertically-movable bowl and a cap, G, which closes down over said bowl when the latter is lowered, and forms with said section a seal or joint, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with a stationary section, F, a vertically-movable bowl, H, having a neck, It, formed integral therewith, and serving as a connection or conduit between said section and bowl when the latter is elevated, as set forth.

4. The combination of section F, with trough or channel f, hinged cap G, with segmental cogged arms {1' g, vertically-movable bowl H, having neck It, with ribs h h, and seat-lid G, substantially as shown and described.

5. In combination with the section F and bowl H, vertically movable into and out of the same, the cap G, hinged to one side of the same, its pintle G being parallel with the major axes of said section and bowl, substantially as shown and described.

6. The section F, formed with a drip-cup, L, in combination with the valve 1 and mercurytroughf, substantially as shown and described.

7. In combination-with section F, having drip-cup L, with opening 1, the cup G, having valve 9 substantially as shown and described.

8. The combination, in a watercloset, of a seat-lid and seal or joint cap, constructed and arranged to lift at right angles to each other, substantially as shown and described.

9. The combination of seat-lid O, seal-cap G, rod I, shaft K, and counter-shaft G, substantially as shown and described.

10. In a water-closet, the combination, with the hinged seat-cover, of a vertically-sliding bowl and mechanism, substantially as described, for raising and lowering said bowl according as the seat-cover is lifted or let down, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of May, 1880.

ABRAHAM EDWARDS.

Witnesses:

AL. P. BURGHELL, M. D. GoNNoLLY. 

